LERNER NEW YOURK EXPANDS AGAIN AT WEST PARK MALL

Lerner New York has taken on a new look at West Park Mall.

The store, with entrances on both the JCPenney and main mall entrance concourses, now encompasses more than 13,000 square feet of retail space and features expanded merchandise lines.

"The store has been under a two-stage remodeling and expansion plan since July of 1991," said Maggie Friend, assistant manager of marketing at the mall. "Lerner New York has absorbed all of what formerly housed a steak house operation and the Cape Girardeau GNC store, which relocated to another wing of the mall."

Wednesday marked the grand opening of Lerner New York, the mall's largest fashion specialty store, said Friend.

The decor features ceiling-to-floor bay-shaped windows, spacious pastel marble aisles curving through bright and open merchandising areas, and amenities such as sofas, lounge chairs and coffee tables for patron use.

Expanded merchandise lines include a spacious lingerie and hosiery area, a wide selection of coats for women, and an expanded accessory line.

Sheri Schrader, store sales manager who was with The Limited Inc. at the mall for seven years, said she expects a busy holiday season with the new store's expanded lines of women's moderately-priced fashions.

Lerner, a women's fashion business since 1918, was acquired by The Limited Inc., in 1985, under the direction of chief executive officer and founder Les Wexner.

As part of The Limited's holdings, the Lerner group constitutes the largest women's specialty apparel business under one name in the United States

Other Limited Inc. stores include Limited, Express, Lane Bryant, Abercrombie and Fitch, and Victoria's Secret.